What You Need To Know About Construction On I35, RM 150, Blanco River

TxDOT, My I35 and Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority’s Weekly Traffic and Road Construction Update for Capital Area IH-35    

TxDOT knows you’ve got to get where you need to go.

While construction is tough on everyone, TxDOT is trying to do everything they can to minimize disruptions. TxDOT knows you’ve got to get where you need to go.

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New braided ramps (where one ramp crosses over the other) are being constructed along the northbound I-35 mainlanes between Hester’s Crossing and RM 620 to eliminate merging conflicts. The northbound and southbound intersections of US 79 and the I-35 frontage roads are also being reconstructed to add a third left-turn for westbound US 79.

PROJECT ACTIVITY

Closures are weather permitting and updated on Tuesday and Fridays.

• Northbound I-35 frontage road left lane closed between Gattis School Rd & the next entrance ramp. The entrance ramp will also close from 9 p.m. Monday, July 10 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, July 11.

• Northbound I-35 right lane closed between SH 45N & US 79. The RM 620 exit ramp will also close from 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 11 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, July 12.

CONSTRUCTION PHASING

• Phase 1: (currently in this phase)

° Improving US 79/I-35 intersection

° Constructing temporary entrance/exit ramps at RM 620 and Hester’s Crossing

° Constructing new braided ramps between SH 45N and RM 620

• Phase 2:

° Tying new ramps into I-35 mainlanes

• Phase 3:

° Final paving

FUNDING

• Construction cost: $28.1 million (State Proposition 1)

SCHEDULE

• Construction start: July 2016
• Anticipated construction completion: Spring 2019, weather permitting

CONTRACTOR: Capital Excavation Company 

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Work includes adding a southbound intersection bypass lane to allow through-traffic to bypass the traffic signal, reconfiguring the entrance/exit ramps, and realigning the southbound frontage road to add a new roundabout that improves traffic flow and safety. Bicycle and pedestrian enhancements will also be made within the project limits.

PROJECT ACTIVITY

Closures are weather permitting and updated on Tuesday and Fridays.

• LONG-TERM CLOSURE: Southbound to northbound I-35 turnaround bridge at 51st Street closed. Will open at 5 a.m. Monday, July 10, weather permitting

• One lane closed southbound I-35 frontage road between Reinli St & 52nd St., from 9 p.m. Friday, July 7 to 5 a.m. Monday, July 10

• Expect closures southbound I-35 between US 290 & Airport Blvd. Southbound I-35 will be reduced to one lane at 11 p.m. The ramps between 51st St & Airport Blvd will also close from 9 p.m. Monday, July 10 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, July 11

• Southbound I-35 right lane closed between US 290 & Airport Blvd. The ramps between 51st St & Airport Blvd will also close from 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 11 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, July 12

• Southbound I-35 frontage road left lane closed between 51st St & 49th St. The entrance ramp from 51st St will also close from 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 12 to 5 a.m. Thursday, July 13

• Southbound I-35 auxiliary lane closed between 51st St & Airport Blvd from Thursday, July 13 through fall 2017

CONSTRUCTION PHASING

• Phase 1: (currently in this phase)
  • Widening southbound I-35 mainlanes
  • Constructing southbound intersection bypass lane
  • Constructing new exit ramp
  • Begin roundabout construction
• Phase 2:
  • Constructing new southbound entrance ramp
• Phase 3:
  • Opening new entrance/exit ramps
  • Completing southbound intersection bypass lane
• Phase 4:
  • Completing improvements to southbound I-35 frontage road and roundabout
  • Final paving operations

FUNDING

• Construction cost: $16.5 million (city of Austin and TxDOT’s Texas Clear Lanes)

SCHEDULE

• Construction start: October 2016
• Anticipated construction completion: Winter 2018/2019, weather permitting

CONTRACTOR: Capital Excavation Company

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Improvements include the reconstruction of the Oltorf Street bridge, improving entrance/exit ramps and frontage roads, constructing new extended entrance/exit lanes for mainlanes and ramps, and adding U-turns in both directions at Oltorf Street. Bicycle and pedestrian enhancements will also be made along the I-35 frontage roads in each direction within the project limits.

PROJECT ACTIVITY

Closures are weather permitting and updated on Tuesday and Fridays.

• Southbound I-35 reduced to one lane between 6th St & Woodland Ave. from 10 p.m. Sunday, July 9 to 6 a.m. Monday, July 10

• Multiple closures Northbound I-35 frontage road between Woodward St and the next entrance ramp. Daily from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Monday, July 10 through Friday, July 14

• Southbound I-35 reduced to one lane between Algarita Ave & Woodward St exit. The entrance ramp from Woodland Ave will also close. Nightly from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. Wednesday, July 12 through Friday, July 14

• Northbound I-35 right lane closed between Woodward St entrance ramp & Oltorf St entrance ramp. The entrance ramp from Woodward St & Oltorf St exit ramp will close. Starting at 9 p.m. Thursday, July 13 to 5 a.m. Friday, July 14

• Alternating lane closures on Oltorf St in both directions across I-35, nightly from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday, July 10 through Thursday, July 13

CONSTRUCTION PHASING:

• Phase 1: (currently in this phase)

° Widen northbound and southbound I-35 mainlanes for extended entrance/exit lanes

° Begin northbound frontage road and Oltorf Street entrance ramp improvements

• Phase 2:

°Reconstruct Oltorf Street bridge and add new U-turns

• Phase 3:

° Construct southbound entrance and exit ramps south of Oltorf Street

° Southbound frontage road improvements

• Phase 4:

° Construct southbound entrance ramp north of Oltorf Street

° Complete frontage road construction

° Final paving operations

FUNDING

• Construction cost: $42.6 million (Congestion Relief Initiative)

SCHEDULE

• Construction start: February 2017
• Anticipated construction completion: Winter 2019/2020, weather permitting

CONTRACTOR

• OHL, USA, Inc.

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The project will reconstruct the bridge structures at Stassney Lane and William Cannon Drive, as well as the frontage road bridge over Williamson Creek. New U-turn bridges will be added in both directions at Stassney Lane and William Cannon Drive, and the I-35 mainlanes will be widened to incorporate shoulders and extended entrance/exit lanes to allow for better merging. Bicycle and pedestrian enhancements are also being made, and new safety lighting is being installed. Click here to view the I-35 from Stassney Lane to William Cannon Drive Smart Work Zone Traffic Camera.

PROJECT ACTIVITY

• Westbound William Cannon right lane closed approaching I-35, and starts at 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 12

• Southbound I-35 frontage road right lane closed between Williamson Creek & Stassney Ln., and starts at 9 a.m. Monday, July 10 to 3 p.m. Monday, July 10

• Southbound I-35 frontage road left lane closed between Shelby Ln & Stassney Ln., and starts nightly from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday, July 10 through Thursday, July 13

• Northbound & southbound I-35 left lanes closed between Slaughter Ln & US 280/SH 71. Northbound nightly from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. & southbound, and starts nightly from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. Monday, July 10 through Thursday, July 13

• Southbound I-35 reduced to one lane between US 290/SH 71 & Slaughter Ln., and starts nightly at 10 p.m. Thursday, July 13 to 6 a.m. Friday, July 14

CONSTRUCTION PHASING

• Phase 1: (currently in this phase)

° Pave inside median area

° Construct extended entrance/exit lanes

° Widen mainlanes and add shoulders

° Build U-turn bridges at Stassney Lane and William Cannon Drive

• Phase 2:

° Construct new Stassney Lane bridge

• Phase 3:

° Construct new William Cannon Drive bridge

° Final paving operations

FUNDING

• Construction cost: $78.8 million (State Proposition 1)

SCHEDULE

• Construction start: July 2016
• Anticipated construction completion: Winter 2019/2020, weather permitting

CONTRACTOR: OHL, USA, Inc.

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Frontage road paving northbound and southbound I-35 from SH 45 North to Rundberg Lane.

PROJECT ACTIVITY

• Northbound I-35 frontage road left lane closed between Howard Ln & SH 45 N/Louis Henna Blvd. Exits 247 & 248 will close as needed, and will start 9 p.m. Sunday, July 9 to 5 a.m. Monday, July 10.

• Northbound I-35 frontage road left lane closed between FM 1825/Wells Branch Pkwy & SH 45N/ Louis Henna Blvd. Exits 248 & 250 will close as needed, and will start at 9 p.m. Monday, July 10 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, July 11.

• Northbound I-35 frontage road left lane closed between Grand Avenue Pkwy & SH 45N/Louis Henna Blvd. Exits 248 & 250 will close as needed, and will start at 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 11 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, July 12

• Northbound & southbound I-35 frontage road closures at Grand Avenue Pkwy, and will start 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 12 to 5 a.m. Thursday, July 13

• Northbound & southbound I-35 frontage road closures at FM 1825/Wells Branch Pkwy., and will start 9 p.m. Thursday, July 13 to 5 a.m. Friday, July 14

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One new ramp will be added and five existing ramps will be modified between RM 150 and the Blanco River.

PROJECT ACTIVITY

Closures are weather permitting and updated on Tuesday and Fridays.

• Southbound I-35 frontage road right lane closed between Kyle Centre Dr & North Burleson St., from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday, July 10.

FUNDING

• Construction cost: $9 million (State Proposition 1)

SCHEDULE

• Construction start: April 2016
• Anticipated construction completion: Summer 2017, weather permitting 

CONTRACTOR: Angel Brothers Enterprises 

My I35 Traffic Alerts are provided by Central Texas Regional Mobile Authority (CTRMA) & TxDOT.